Sri Lanka eyes 2027 Cricket World Cup to promote tourism and Ceylon Tea
Newswire: Sri Lanka is exploring plans to use the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa as a platform to internationally promote key sectors, including Ceylon Tea and tourism.
A discussion on the proposed promotional initiative was held on Thursday (13) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, joined the discussion virtually, while Foreign Ministry Director General for Africa Nimal Perera and Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva also participated.
Senior officials representing the Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, tea promotion sector, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Department of Government Information, National Gem and Jewellery Authority and SriLankan Airlines also attended.
The discussions focused on coordinating efforts to promote Sri Lanka and its major sectors internationally alongside the global exposure generated by the Cricket World Cup.
The 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s plans to leverage the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa to promote Ceylon Tea and tourism could create fresh opportunities for investment and business expansion across both sectors. The proposed initiative, discussed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, comes as Sri Lanka’s tea and tourism industries continue to show steady growth, with the two sectors increasingly complementing each other. The global exposure generated by the World Cup could provide Sri Lankan businesses with a valuable platform to reach international consumers, businesses, investors and travel markets. Ceylon Tea, supported by its strong global brand, could be positioned alongside Sri Lanka as a destination for leisure, wellness and tea-related experiences. Meanwhile, tourism operators could use the promotion to showcase tea estates, plantation regions and other attractions, creating business/investment opportunities for new hospitality, experiential tourism and value-added tea ventures. A coordinated campaign around the World Cup could therefore strengthen Sri Lanka’s international visibility while encouraging foreign investment into tea production, processing, exports, hotels, resorts and tourism-related services. With cricket providing a global promotional platform, the initiative could help transform greater international interest in Sri Lanka into tangible trade, tourism and investment opportunities, supporting the continued expansion of both industries.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260818Z_1 |